Will the new Range Rover set a new benchmark in the super-luxury SUV segment?

The Range Rover is one of the most iconic SUVs in the world, but it’s faced increased competition lately from the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce. The Cullinan set a new benchmark in the super-luxury segment, so Land Rover will have to up its game for the next Range Rover. According to Autocar, the new next-generation Range Rover will arrive by 2021 and will feature technically advanced powertrains, autonomous driving systems and infotainment to give it the edge over its rivals.

Both the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will be built on a brand-new architecture, which has prompted a major refit at Land Rover’s plant in Solihull, UK, to accommodate the new technology. The new platform will be “significantly lighter” than the current model’s D7u architecture, and the lightest of all Jaguar Land Rover platforms. Called Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA), the aluminium platform will be used on all future Jaguar Land Rover models from the Jaguar XE to the Range Rover. The lighter platform will accommodate the extra heft of battery packs for electric and hybrid models, plus the technology and drivetrains that MLA has been designed to accommodate.

According to Autocar, the next Range Rover, codenamed L460, will be around the same size as the current model, which would still make it slightly smaller than the Bentayga. Unsurprisingly, the exterior design won’t be radically altered and will retain the Range Rover’s iconic look. While luxury rivals such as Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin’s Lagonda sub-brand are preparing all-electric models, Autocar claims that an all-electric version of the new Range Rover won’t be available initially. It will instead arrive as a standalone model, but there will be a plug-in hybrid variant with an increased electric range above the 31 miles of the current P400e.

The combustion engine-powered line-up will undergo some major changes, as Autocar reports the current 3.0-liter V6 and supercharged 5.0-liter V8 and 3.0-liter V8 engines will be scrapped and replaced by straight-six Ingenium gasoline and diesel units developed in-house. Some models will combine 48V mild hybrid technology to improve performance and economy. The next Range Rover’s infotainment will be an updated version of the Touch Pro Duo system first seen on the Velar last year featuring two 10-inch screens. An advanced version of the Jaguar E-Pace’s Smart settings will also feature in the new flagship, which uses artificial intelligence to monitor occupant’s habits and adjust settings accordingly.

The next Range Rover could also feature advanced autonomous driving systems, since Jaguar is currently trialing self-driving technology.